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Be ready for this hurricane season by Kathryne Young Public Relations Each year, Charleston residents prepare themselves for hurricane season.   MUSC stays busy planning and preparing for the upcoming weather scenarios.  and takes many precautions to keep students and faculty safe.   MUSC's main concern is to ensure students and faculty are well-prepared.  The university sponsored its annual Hurricane Awareness Day May 25. George Crouch, wireless manager, S.C. Budget and Control Board, explains details about their new mobile communications tower to MUSC staff and students unveiled at the May 25 MUSC Hurricane Awareness Day activities. The 75-foot expandable antenna tower enhances communications for 800 megahertz radio systems enabling police, fire and other emergency responders to talk within a 150 mile radius. The unit can be used during a hurricane or other natural disasters. The following organizations donated time and information to MUSC’s 2005 Hurricane Awareness Day: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, S.C. Emergency Management Division, Charleston county area S.C. Project Impact, S.C. Highway Patrol, American Red Cross,  S.C. Electric and Gas Company, Charleston County Rescue Squad, WCBD TV, The Salvation Army, S.C. Budget and Control Board (Office of the State CIO), MUHA Safety and Security and Volunteer Services, MUSC Public Safety, NOAA's National Weather Service, Charleston Police Department, and S.C. DHEC—Trident Public Health District.   Checklists and appropriate phone numbers and Web sites were distributed in order to help the university community be ready for any upcoming natural disaster.    MUSC’s main source for students and faculty to gain updated information is its emergency Web site, http://www.musc.edu/weatheremergency. The site includes links to a weather emergency information board, MUSC’s severe weather plan, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  (NOAA) weather alerts, National Weather Service updates and satellite images, MUSC pet care information, weather policies, and other related sites.    The severe weather plan includes evacuation routes, school closing policy, family preparation suggestions, and the responsibilities of the medical center and university personnel.    Perhaps the newest addition in hurricane preparedness is the “red button” on MUSC's homepage. This button replaces the hospital construction button on the main page in case of a tornado, hurricane, tropical storm, or winter weather emergency. Updated each time MUSC’s Office of Risk Management receives a wire from the National Weather Service, the button informs people of new information, no matter how small or trivial it may seem.    “We want people to know we are keeping an eye out for them,” said Jennifer Taylor, Risk Management business manager.    MUSC distributes Emergency Information green cards to all employees of the hospital. The annually updated card includes a checklist of what to bring in case of a hurricane, emergency phone numbers, and the name of the emergency Web site.    Designated employees required to stay during a hurricane are notified ahead of time and receive an emergency worker display tag for their car. This allows them to get through road blocks if necessary. Designated employees are divided into two teams. Team A rides the storm out while Team B remains at home or evacuates and returns to Charleston as soon as possible to replace Team A.    “The most important thing is to take the precautionary steps, no matter how mundane they may seem,” said Al Nesmith, director of Safety, Security, and Volunteer services.    The university instructs employees to dial 792-MUSC (6872) for updated information on class cancellations and reporting to work. Television and local radio stations also provide emergency information. Faculty, staff, and students are told to prepare a hurricane kit. The kit should include flashlights, water, food, first aid kit, medications, batteries, cash, matches, a clock, a map of the area, a list of important phone numbers, an insurance policy, and a clean change of clothes.      The American Red Cross suggests five actions—make a plan, build a kit, get trained, volunteer, and give blood.  The Red Cross also advises Charleston residents to prepare a personal evacuation plan.    Risk Management, Public Safety, and many other areas of MUSC work hard at preparing students, faculty, and staff for anything that may come during hurricane season.  Al Nesmith advises, “Be prepared and follow the instructions that are given not only by the MUSC administration but also from the Charleston County Emergency Preparation Division.” 2005 Hurricanes Arlene Bret Cindy Dennis Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katrina Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rita Stan Tammy Vince Wilma Pet care during a weather emergency It’s that time of the year again when pet owners must prepare for care of their pets should a hurricane target the Charleston area. Regardless if a pet is boarded in a local kennel, housed at the North Charleston Coliseum or checked into the limited Emergency Pet Care  Center (EPCC) at MUSC, the following immunizations must be current. Dogs must receive the rabies/bordetella vaccine five days prior to boarding the animal. Cats must also get the rabies vaccine and the feline leukemia vaccine. Animals must be crated due to the location of the pet care center. Label crate with the pet’s name, your name, telephone number and veterinarian’s name. Keep a copy of your pet’s immunization records and pertinent medical history with the animal. Since all animals must be crated for their protection and others, you may want to tape a copy of the immunization records to the top of the animal’s crate. Keep a list of medications the pet may be on, along with administration times. Maintain a two-week supply of any medications. Animals should have a collar with an ID tag, leash clearly labeled, bowls and three-day supply of food and water. Animals will not be allowed in the hospital work area or any private offices located throughout the hospital or university buildings.   The EPCC will be located on the second floor of the new Ashley Avenue Parking Garage. Employees will be able to drive to the drop-off area. The MUSC Pet Care Center will only accept dogs and cats. This year the center will accept reservations and be on a first come, first serve basis. There is a maximum of three pets per employee.   The MUSC Emergency Pet Care Center and the North Charleston Coliseum should only be used as a last resort. For hurricane information, visit http://www.musc.edu/weatheremergency http://www.redcross.org http://www.nhc.noaa.gov     Friday, June 10, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.